The stages of gathering elements for the Learning
History (data in
professional language) and analyzing, looking for stories and patterns, are
overlapping and cyclic. Let me give an example of my approach, in a
staccato, telegram style:

Interviews - writing on paper -
making notes - add reflections - mark every single "unit" that has a
meaning and write it on sticky notes

Categorize the sticky notes, using large
A3-sheets

Discuss the categories and sticky
notes
sayings, l

Rearrange all the stuff and cycle
again, until themes and patterns, some conclusions and illustrations
emerge

Make an overview of all the elements
arranged by category, in what I call "building blocks" document (see
picture); it is a two column story

Reading and discussing the data, we
fill in the right column, with sensitizing concepts, conclusions,
logics

When the categorizing is done with
a small group of people, engaging members of the organization
or community, it is an important phase for reflection and sensemaking.
What do the sticky notes tell us? What typical quotes, logics, illustrations,
sensitizing concepts emerge?

I am surprised by this
process every time. I can not explain how it works, but it works, although it costs
a lot of effort and discipline in the beginning.

The process of making a Learning History
can be seen as a type of Naturalistic Inquiry. Read more aboutfeatures and quality criteria for the process